Insert gathering and envelope stuffing machine



Oct. 27, 1953 2. E. COLBY INSERT GATHERING AND ENVELOPE STUFFING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet l 2 INVENTOR.

Z suns E. Cow? 47'7'ORNEV Oct. 27, 1953 2. E. COLBY 2, ,04

INSERT GATHERING AND ENVELOPE STUFFING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1951 12 Sheets5heet 2 0 INVENTOR. Z s/wps 6'. Coca ATTORNEY INSERT GATHERING AND ENVELOPE STUFFING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1951 Z. E. COLBY Oct. 27, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 ll V T mm w. V N m@ k E m an s 7 =2 m A N 1 .z o n I w M QNn m .5 -n .-m i w -mm wed m N e3 m mmu vw- MIN n" 00- g 0 w M MHH Be t. 27, 1953 z. E COLBY INSERT GATHERING AND ENVELOPE STUFFING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Fb. 5, 1951 m m m m Zzvns 5. Cow) A 7" TOPNEV Oct. 27, 1953 7 z. E. COLBY 2,657,043

INSERT GATHERING AND ENVELOPE STUFFING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Zs/vns E. Cour Oct. 27, 1953 z. E. COLBY 2,657,043

INSERT GATHERING AND ENVELOPE STUFFING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 I I O N E! L a d 3 N I N 9 N 8 3 3 a N I o N m N I) H N N \0 INVENTOR.

Zems '6. C045? Oct. 27, 1953 z. E. COLBY 2,657,043 INSERT GATHERING AND ENVELOPE STUFFING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 Era? INVENTOR. Zen/4s E. Cousv 2,657,043 INSERT GATHERING AND ENVELOPE STUFFING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1951 Z. E. COLBY Oct. 27, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 won 80m IN VEN TOR.

Ze/vns 6. Cowv BY 4 2 A04 F LH Oct. 27, 1953 2. E. COLBY 2,657,043

INSERT GATHERING AND ENVELOPE STUFFING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 0. X J r 3 N Q g N N N Q N 5 [n P5 3 o 8 N Q on n In N '4 G p INVENTOR.

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z. E. COLBY 2,657,043 INSERT GATHERING AND ENVELOPE STUFFING MACHINE Oct. 27, 1953 12 Sheet sSheet 10 Filed Feb. 5, 1951 INVENTOR. Zewns f. Coaav Oct. 27, 1953 2. E. COLBY 2,657,043

INSERT GATHERING AND ENVELOPE STUFFIING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet ll A INVENTOR. Zewns 6'. Cour Oct. 27, 1953 2. E. COLBY 2, 7,0

INSERT GATHERING AND ENVELOPE STUFFING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1951 12 Sheeis-Sheet 12 INVENTOR. Ze/ms Cour Patented Oct. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,657,043 INSERT GATHERING niiNvELoPE STUFFIN G MACHINE Zenas E. Colby, Saginaw, Micln, assignor' to Jackson and Church Company, Saginaw, Micli a corporation of Michigan Application February 5, 1951,. Serial No. 209,404

(Cl. 271F 55) 10 Claims.

The present invention relates to an automatic machine for gathering inserts and stuffing them into envelopes. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel machine for gathering inserts in nested relation, that is, with the fold portions of folded inserts containing therebetween other inserts to be included in one envelope, and thereafter stuffing each of the nested collections into its envelope.

Prior to the present invention, there has been a great need among business concerns whose normal operations require regular mailing of form letters or inserts and the like to a large number of addresses, for an insert gathering and envelope stufling machine which can gather inserts and stuff them into envelopes at a rela tively high rate of speed and which can operate continuously at this high rate of speed without having frequent stoppages of the machine caused by faulty gathering or stufiing operations.

One of the conventional types of insert gathering and envelope stufiing machines heretofore used is that in which inserts are gathered merely by stacking one insert on top of another in a series of successive operations, and thereafter the stuffing operation is carried out so that each of the collections of loosely stacked inserts is stuffed into its envelope. Machines for gathering inserts in this manner havebeen constructed which have a relatively high rated output per hour, but when these machines are in use, it is found that their actual output per hour is considerably belowtheir rated output, because frequent stoppages occur as a result of faulty gathering and stuffing operations.

As is believed understood, it is quite difficult to operate without interruptions an insert gathering and envelope stuffing machine which gathers inserts merely by stacking one on top of another, since, in operation, the stacks of inserts must be translated rapidly in intermittent steps and such translation will readily cause misalignment of the inserts in the stacks resulting in jams being created or preventing a collection of inserts from being stuffed into its envelope. The stuffing' operation may be difficult to carry out, not only because of misalignment of the inserts, but also because of the rather loose, bulky stack which results from this type of gathering operation.

In order to overcome these difiiculties which prevail when using this conventional type of machine, efforts have been made in this field to develop an insert gathering and envelope stuflin machine which gathers the inserts in nested rela tion between the folded portions of a folded insert thereby providing a compact collection of inserts which can be translated as a single unit and which can be easily stuffed into its envelope. Nesting of the inserts is desirable, not merely because of the improved operation that can be expected from the insert gathering and envelope stufling machine, but and because of the more favorable effect inserts arranged in this manner have on recipients of this mail.

Insert gathering and envelope stuffing ma chines have been developed which enable inserts to be gathered in a nested" relation, but these machines are not constructed and arranged to ermit a sufiicient number of collections of nested inserts to be made per unit of time in all instances to meet the present requirements of business concerns.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the pres'- ent invention to provide an insert gathering and envelope stufling machine which is adapted to gather a plurality of inserts in compact nested collections and to stuff the same into envelopes and which machine is constructed and arranged to ermit the nested collections to be assembled by additions resulting from successive deliveries of inserts to a plurality of partially unfolded iii serts being translated by said machine, thereby to form said nested collections a manner necessitating a minimum of mechanical movements and to stuif a maximum number of compact nested collections per unit of time into envelopes. H h

It is another objectof the present invention to provide apparatus for use an insert gathering and envelope stufling machine, said apparatus being constructed and arranged to permit foldedinserts to be partially unfolded and translatedwith their folded edges in alignment with their paths of movement so that inserts can be assembled within the folded inserts to form nestedcollections by addition resulting from successive deliveries, said deliveries being made at right angles to the path of movement of the folded inserts to permit compact collections to be formed with a minimum of movements of the various inserts andto form said collections at a relatively high rate ofspeed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an insert gathering and envelope stuffing machine of the foregoing' character which includes means to insure that each of the folded inserts is preper' alignment at its initial point of translation to facilitate receiving thereafter in proper position within its folds successive deliveries of additional inserts, and which machine includes means to arrest movement of the inserts being intermittently translated at fixed locations before the various insert magazines, thereby to insure that the collections of inserts are compactly and neatly arranged permitting them to be readily stuffed into envelopes.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an insert gathering and envelope stuffing machine of the foregoing character which includes means to separate the inserts stacked in the insert magazines to facilitate removing them singly therefrom during the gathering operation, and other means which function to register an alarm when excessive or insufficient inserts are translated past predetermined locations.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the insert gathering and envelope stufiing machine with a portion of the machine at the right being broken away;

Fig. 1A is a sectional view taken on the line lA-lA showing the location of discharge air apertures in the air conduit which aids in maintaining the partially unfolded inserts in proper positions;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the insert gathering and envelope stuffing machine showing the portion of the machine broken away in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the left end of the machine with various parts broken away or removed to show features of the driving mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the machine, similar to that of Fig. 3, but showing instead the right end of the machine omitted from Fig. 3.

Fig. 4A is an enlarged front elevational view of one of the gripper mechanisms shown in Fig. 4 which are used in transferring envelopes along the machine;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the machine taken from the left side of the machine as seen in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 5 with the right portion of the machine broken away and with various elements removed.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line l'l of Fig. 5 showing the portion of the machine broken away in Fig. 6 and with various elements removed;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3, various parts being broken away or removed to facilitate describing the machine;

Fig. 8A is a fragmentary sectional view of the carriage for the insert gathering elements;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view with various elements removed showing the mechanism for actuating the suction cups for removing inserts from the insert magazines and also ShOWiIlg the mechanism for reciprocating the plurality of fingers which convey the inserts to the insert gathering elements;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken through the envelope stuifing substation with various elements being removed to facilitate showing the mechanisms which carry out the operations of stuffing the inserts into the envelopes;

Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of the compresed air and vacuum systems as used in the present machine;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view taken on line 52-52 of Fig. 1 of the safety devices as used in the present machine; and

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the safety device shown in Fig. 12.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the insert gathering machine can be seen. As will be more fully explained hereinafter, this machine includes a station for gathering inserts in a nested relation and an envelope handling station for preparing the envelopes to permit the nested inserts to be stuffed thereinto.

Ihe envelope handling station includes a table along which the envelopes can be conveyed and a plurality of substations adjacent the surface of the table by virtue of which a plurality of different operations are performed on the envelopes. The first of these substations is located at the forward end of the table and includes an envelope magazine from which envelopes are extracted and delivered singly to its location on the surface of the table where each is engaged by a chain driven gripper mechanism so as to be conveyed through the remaining substations to a discharge magazine.

Immediately after being gripped by a gripper mechanism, each envelope is conveyed through a substation where an operation for slightly creasing the upper edge of the envelope is performed so that the flap of the envelope will be raised slightly, and thereafter, the envelope is conveyed through a substation where a knife, after passing under the slightly raised flap, folds open the flap of the envelope.

Each envelope is then translated with its flap folded open to an inserting substation where its panels are spread apart and held in an open position to facilitate stufiing of inserts thereinto. Each envelope is also located so that it is in a proper position to receive its inserts.

After being stuffed, the loaded envelopes are passed through successive substations where the return address and other desired printed matter can be printed thereon, the flap can be moistened for sealing, the flap closed, and the loaded envelopes can be deposited in a discharge magazine.

The insert athering operation is carried out at a station which includes another table along which the inserts are gathered and translated to the inserting substation to be loaded into their respective envelopes. This table is disposed in parallel relationship with the table of the envelope handling station and is arranged to permit translation of the inserts in the opposite direction from the direction of translation of the envelopes.

The inserts are translated along the surface of the table by a plurality of insert gathering elements uniformly spaced in tandem on a support member. The latter is arranged to provide intermitent linear movement of the inserts. A se- I ries of insert magazines are mounted above the table and along the path of linear movement of the inserts so that successive deliveries can be made of the inserts from the series of insert magazines to the insert gathering elements.

In order to provide the desired nesting of the collected inserts for stuffing into the envelopes, the inserts from the first magazine of the series are introduced into the magazine in a folded condition. A mechanism is provided for removing each of the folded inserts singly from the magazine and thereafter depositing the same on the table adjacent the first of the insert gathering elements to be translated thereby. Prior to such translation, a suction cup mechanism is employed to raise the upper panel of the folded insert and to deposit the same on a conduit which extends above the surface of the table partially before the first magazine and before each of the succeeding magazines. This conduit is positioned between the insert gathering elements and the insert magazines so that the first insert can be positioned with its upper fold on the conduit with the opening between the folded panels facing the magazines so as to facilitate the reception therebetween of additional inserts delivered from the succeeding magazines during the translation of the partially unfolded insert.

Air under pressure is discharged from said air conduit downwardly on the lower fold panel of the first insert to press it against the table surface so that succeeding inserts can be delivered between the folds, and as each insert is nested therebetween, it will also be pressed downwardly by the jets of air to facilitate nesting of succeeding inserts. The insert gathering elements will deposit the collections of nested inserts at the insert stuffing substation where the stuffing mechanism will load the collections of nested inserts into their respective envelopes.

The present insert gathering and envelope stufiing machine is designed to gather inserts in nested collections and to stuff such collections into envelopes at the rate of approximately 5000 nested collections per hour. Because of the novel construction and arrangement of the insert gathering machinery, the operation thereof can be continuous with a minimum of stoppages caused by faulty handling of the inserts or faulty stufling of the collections of nested inserts into their respective envelopes. This will be understood from the more detailed description which follows hereinafter.

Envelope handling station Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, the envelope handling station I 0 can be seen including a table I2 at one end of which is located an envelope magazine I4. The envelope magazine It is formed from a plurality of upright members It disposed in spaced. relation with respect to one another and positioned to form a rectangular enclosure. A plurality of cross members It are mounted on the upright members I6 around the inner periphery of the rectangular enclosure to provide a peripheral ledge on which a stack of envelopes of conventional size can be supported.

The table I2 has an opening 20 located centrally of the envelope magazine I4 through which a plate 22 having a pair of suction cups 24 extending above its upper surface can be reciprocated. The plate 22 is bolted to a rod 26 as at 28, and the rod 26 is journaled in the support bracket 30 and is adapted to be reciprocated by thecam actuated linkage 3|. The latter is pivotally mounted on the shaft 32 and has a cam follower (not shown) on its one end in engagement with the cam 33a, Fig. 7, on the cam shaft 33.

Each of the suction cup-s 24 has a flexible conduit 34, fragmentarily shown in Fig. 4, attached to its lower end to provide a vacuum within its cup portion when in a raised position so as to hold the lowermost envelope and to pull the same from the envelope magazine I4 on the return of the suction cups 24 to their normal position shown in Fig. 4.

Pivotally mounted on the shaft 32 is :an arm 36 suitably connected to a kicker member 38 which extends upwardly through a slot 39 in the table i2 so that when the envelope, shown in phantom in Fig. 2, has been deposited on the table by the suction cups 24, the kicker member 38 will be actuated to kick the envelope to one of a plurality of gripper mechanisms 40 to be gripped thereby for conveying the envelope to subsequent substations. The linkage Si is pivotally mounted in the shaft 32 and has a cam follower adapted to follow a cam 33a on the cam shaft 33.

Each of the gripper mechanisms 40 is connected to a chain 42 of an intermittently operating drive arrangement which will be described in greater detail hereinafter. As can be seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the chain 42 is an endless chain having the gripper mechanisms 40 uniformly spaced thereon. As each gripper mechanism 40 is pivoted around the wheel 24 adjacent the envelope magazine I4, the jaws of the gripper mechanism are opened to receive the forward end of an envelope which has been kicked from the-plate 22 by the kicker member 38.

The jaws of the gripper mechanism #0 are opened by engagement of the rear or movable jaw member 46, which is pivotally connected at 47 to the forward or stationary jaw member 48, with the upwardly extending arm member 50. The latter is pivotally connected by link 5| to the lever 52 which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 53 and has a cam follower (not shown) on its end to follow the cam this so that the arm member will be raised to engage the movable jaw member 46 and open the same at the proper time to permit the jaws of the gripper mechanism 40 to receive the envelope from the kicker member 38.

The jaws of the gripper mechanism 40 will be closed gripping the envelope therebetween when the gripper mechanism i moved lengthwise through the slot 54 in the table I2 to the substation for creasing the flap of the envelope. As. seen in Fig. 2, the creasing device includes a plate 56 bolted as at 58 to an arm 60 pivotally mounted in the brackets 62. The plate 58 has its one end bent upwardly as at 64 to guide the edge of the envelope thereunder. The table I2 has a recessed portion 66 formed therein into which the plate 56 can be lowered when pivoted in the brackets 62. By virtue of the lowering of plate 56 into the recessed portion 66, a pinching action will take place on the upper edge of the envelope being conveyed causing the flap thereof to be slightly raised to facilitate opening of the flap by the knife 66.

The pivotal movement of the arm 66 is provided by the rod 68, which is connected at its one end to the outer end 19 of the pivotally mounted arm 60 and at its. other end to the one arm of the bell crank 12, which in turn is pivotally mounted on shaft 53 and has on its other arm 14 a cam p I follower (not shown) in engagement with the cam 33d, Fig. 7, of cam shaft 33.

The knife is supported by the bracket 16 and is shaped so that as each of the gripper mechanisms conveys an envelope past the knife 66, the flap will be rolled thereunder to a position as shown in phantom at 18, Fig. 2. Prior to reaching this latter position, a safety device 80 is provided for detecting when an envelope flap has not been properly opened or if no envelope is being conveyed.

The safety device t6 includes an arm 82 pivotally mounted at its midpoint and having at its inner end a suitable type of electrical device for determining, when the arm 82 is pivoted, if paper or the like is present between the said electrical device and the metallic table i2. This can be accomplished by providing an electric contact which will engage the envelope flap or in the absence of such flap, will engage the top of the table I2. A suitable wiring circuit (not shown) can be provided so that in the latter situation the circuit will be closed setting off an alarm or stopping the machine. In the former situation, the paper flap will act as an insulating member preventing the circuit from being closed. Thus, if one of the gripper mechanisms at has failed to grip its envelope or if the flap of the envelope is not opened properly, the operator of the machine will be warned and can take the necessary corrective steps to avoid subsequent troubles at the insert stuffing substation which is located immediately after the substation containing the safety device 8d.

The arm 82 is pivotally actuated by means of rod til which extends between the outer end of the arm 82 and a lever til pivotally mounted on the shaft 53, and with the lever 35 having a cam follower (not shown) in engagement with the cam site of the cam shaft 33. On rotation 01 cam shaft 33, the lever 3% will be rocked on the shaft 53 causing rod 8A to reciprocate, which, in turn, will pivotally actuate the arm 32.

Following the operation of opening the flap of the envelope, the latter is conveyed by the gripper mechanism ii; to the insert stuffing substation, indicated generally at 88, Fig. 2. Here, the gripper mechanism 46 first releases the envelope to facilitate stufilng of the latter. The releasing operation can be understood by examining the releasing mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and '7.

As shown, an upwardly extending arm member 96 is positioned to engage the movable jaw member 46 of the gripper mechanism it when arm member til is raised. A pivotal link member 92 and linl; as are operatively connected with the arm member fit? in a similar manner to that of arm member 5a, link member 59a and link 55 previously described. By virtue of this construction, the jaws of the gripper mechanism ii) will be held an open position while arm member 95} is in its raised position. The latter will be raised by the rocking action of the bell crank 96 which has its one arm 98 pivotally connected to the link at and its other arm I00 in camrning engagement with the cam 33 of the cam shaft Thus, when the cam shaft 33 rotates, the arm member at will reciprocate to open the jaws of each gripper member it when the latter has moved the envelope to the position shown in phantom at substation 953 in Fig. 2.

Subsequent to the releasing of the envelope by the gripper mechanism 49, the envelope will be opened and positioned for receiving inserts from the insert gathering station. The mechanisms for positioning and opening each envelope will be described hereinafter subsequent to the description of the insert gathering station.

After the envelope has been loaded at the insert stuffing substation 8%, it is again regripped by the gripper mechanism il]. As will be understood more fully, the stuffing operation is completed during the time when the cannning action of the cam shaft 33 on the bell crank 96 causes the jaws of the gripper mechanism st to be'in an open position. Thus, when the gripper mechanism regrips the envelope, the latter will have been loaded.

The gripper mechanism to then conveys the envelope to a substation for printing information, such as the return address of the sender, and the like, on each envelope. The apparatus for carrying out this operation is not fully shown in the drawings, since its details are not a part of the present invention, and it should be understood that any conventional type of printing apparatus may be employed.

Referring to Fig. 2, a printing roller E82 can be seen above which is mounted a roller Hi4 and the envelopes will be conveyed by the gripper mechanism at between these rollers it?! and i The printing roller it? contains the necessary type thereon (not shown) and this type is inked by a suitable inking roller tilt, Fig. 4, adjustably mounted below the printing roller 1162. The inking operation is carried out during one phase of the rotation of the said printing roller W2.

Each loaded envelope is conveyed from the print substation to a discharge substation where the envelope is released by the gripper mechanism #36 and deposited on a reciprocable ram Hi6. Rain it? is raised and lowered by the rod which is pivotally connected to the crank arm 5 it. The latter is secured to shaft i if which in turn has crank arm iil secured thereto and the end of crank arm ii has a cam follower (not shown) which follows in the face cam iita. of cam shaft lit. Thus, on rotation of cam shaft lit, the ram itit will be vertically reciprocated.

Also mounted on cam shaft iii; is a cam H61) which serves to operate a mechanism (not shown) through the linkage IE8 for positioning the envelopes on the ram tilt before the latter is raised. A cam M60 is also mounted on cam shaft ii? to actuate a brake arm tilt for applying the brake I22 intermittently to the clutch E24. The latter is part of a conventional type of drive arrangement for intermittently driving the endless chain 32. The clutch his is driven by the sector gear iiifi which is reciprocated on shaft E28 by the action of the connecting rod 39. The latter is rotated by the crank 132 located on the end of cam shaft iiii. It is to be understood, however, that any conventional type of intermittent drive mechanism for driving the endless chain it may be used with the present invention.

Insert gathering station Referring next to Figs. 1 and 5, the insert gathering station 2% can be seen including a table on which the inserts are deposited from a plurality of insert magazines and are conveyed to the insert stufiing substation 83 previously described. The insert magazines comprise a first insert magazine 2M. and a plurality of other insert magazines 2516.

The insert magazines 2% and 2% are supported at approximately a 45 angle above the surface of table 2&2 by a plurality of brackets 200. Each of the insert magazines 204 and 206 has a pair of retainer members 2m extending inwardly before the open front thereof for supporting inserts which have been placed therein. Each of the pairs of retainer members 210 are adjustably mounted, as at 2| 2, on any suitable support structure. As is believed apparent, the retainer members 210 support the inserts (not shown) only at the edges of the latter so that each of said inserts (not shown) can be removed from its magazine by the operation of a pivotally mounted mechanism having suction cups which engage the forward insert (not shown) between its ends and removes it from its magazine.

Attention is directed to Figs. 9, 1, and 5 for an explanation of this operation. As seen, each of suction cups 2l4 is mounted on an arm 2i6 which in turn is supported in a support member 218. The support member 218 is attached to the shaft 220 for limited rotation therewith. The shaft 220 has an actuating arm 222 secured thereto to which is pivotally connected a linkage 224. The latter in turn is hingedly connected to the cam actuated arm 226 which has its lower end connected to the shaft 228 and which has a cam follower 230 adapted to follow on the cam 2320. of the cam shaft 232. Thus, on rotation of cam shaft 232 the suction cups 214 will be reciprocated to intermittently withdraw inserts from the insert magazines 204 and 206,

A vacuum is created in the suction cups 214 immediately prior to the suction cups 2; reaching the raised position shown in Fig. 9. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, conduits from a manifold on the suction side of a vacuum pump extend to each of the vacuum cups 214. A valve, which is cam actuated from the cam shaft 232, will be opened at the proper time to create the vacuum in the suction cups H4 and the valve will be closed when the suction cups 2| 4 have been pivoted to their lowermost position flush with the top of table 202.

While the suction cups 2M are in their lowermost positions, flush with table top 202, a plurality of fingers 240 are actuated to engage the inserts deposited on the table top 202 and convey them along parallel paths to positions over the slot 242 in the table top 202. As best seen in Figs. 5, 8, and 9, the fingers 240 are extensions of the arms 244 which are attached to the transverse pusher bar 246. The latter extends substantially the length of table top 202 and is mounted on a plurality of rollers 248 enabling it to be moved in a horizontal plane toward and away from the slot 242.

The transverse pusher bar 246 is joined to the crank arm 250 of the shaft 252 by a link 254. Due crank arm 250 is reciprocated a result of the action of the eccentric 254 on the cam shaft 232, which eccentric on rotation of cam shaft 232 will reciprocate the connecting rod 256 and crank arm 258 of' the shaft 252. Thus, it can be seen that as the cam shaft 232 is rotated, the plurality of fingers 240 and suction cups 2 I4 will be in synchronous movement enabling the inserts to be removed from the insert magazines 204 and 206 and thereafter to be conveyed to a position above the slot 242 for longitudinal translation along the table top 202.

The inserts (not shown) are translated intermittently along. the table top 202 by a plurality of insert gathering elements 260, Figs. 1 2 and 3, which project upwardly throughthe slot 242 and are carried on a reciprocable bar 252. The latter is carried in a guide way 264 which is adapted to be raised and lowered by the reciprocating action of the push rods 266, Fig. 3 and Fig. 8. As best seen in Fig. 8, each push rod 266 is reciprocated by one of the ends of the rocker arms 268, which are mounted on shaft 210 and each has its other end in camming engagement with one of the cams 212 of cam shaft 232. By virtue of this construction, the insert gathering elements 260 will be in a raised position to gather inserts deposited over slot 232 when the said insert gathering elements 260 are moved to the right, and on the return stroke thereof, the insert gathering elements 260 will be lowered to pass under the inserts on the table top 202. It is to be understood that the raised. portions of cams 212 will be so positioned as to provide the proper timing of the raising and lowering action of the insert gathering elements 260 to correspond with the horizontal reciprocating movements thereof so that the inserts (not shown) will be collected from in front of each of the insert magazines 204 and 206 and translated to the next in the series of the insert magazines 204 and 206 where they will be deposited until another group of inserts can be added thereto from the insert magazines 204 and 205.

The horizontal reciprocating movements of the insert gathering elements 260 for translating the inserts (not shown) to the right is effected by the gear driven mechanism, Figs. 3 and 6, comprising the bevel gears 280 and 282 secured respectively to the cam shaft 232 and the shaft 284 which in turning will rotate the crank 206. The latter is linked. to the pivotally mounted arm 288 for oscillating said arm 2 86 on the journal mountings for the shaft 290. The upper end of arm 28 8 is connected to the reciprocable bar 262 by a link 292 so that the reciprocable bar 262 will be reciprocated by the arm 280-.

The mechanism for reciprocating the bar 262 is suitably constructed and arranged to permit the bar 262 to be moved from the position shown in Fig. 3 to a position to the right thereof approximately equal to the distance between each of the insert gathering. elements 260. By virtue of this construction, the inserts (not shown) can be intermittently translated from a position before one insert magazine to a corresponding position before the next insert magazine. As explained above, after the inserts (not shown) have been deposited. before an insert magazine, the insert gathering elements 250 will be lowered below the top surface 202 and then returned to the starting position shown in Fig. 3. The return of the insert gathering elements is effected by the return stroke of the arm 288 in a manner believed to be readily understood.

One of the important features of the present invention is the manner in which the inserts are gathered in nested relationship while being translated along the table 200'. The inserts (not shown) which are placed in the insert maga' zine 204 are in a folded condition with a folded edge uppermost. When an. insert (not shown) is removed from the first insert magazine 204', it will be deposited on. the table top 202 with the folded edge facing in the direction of the slot 242. Thereafter, when the fingers 240 push the folded insert (not shown) over the slot 242, the folded edge will be adjacent the rail 294.

The folded insert (not shown) will then be partially unfolded by the action of the suction cup 300, which is mounted on the pivotally movseated in the table top surface 232.

As seen in Figs. 1, 5, and 8, the arm 802 is mounted in a support member 305 which is secured to the shaft 398. The latter is journaled in the bearings 3H] and M2 and can be rotated a limited amount as a result of the oscillating motion of depending arm 313. A link 3l6 is pivotally connected to depending arm 3 l 4 and to the one arm of the bell crank SIB which is journaled on the shaft 2%. See Fig. 6. The other arm 3!?! has a cam follower (not shown) at its end in em gagement with face cam 3l9a. Thus, when the hell crank M8 is rotated intermittently, a limited amount by the cam action on the face cam else the suction cup 336 will be lowered and raised to lift the upper fold of the folded insert (not shown). The lower fold will be held down by the suction cups 394. It should be understood that a vacuum will be created in each of the suc tion cups3flll and 3434' by the vacuum pump and suitable conduits leading to said suction cups 366 and .304 as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The primary purpose of the suction cup 330 is to raise the upper fold of the folded insert (not shown) to a position above the air conduit 323 after which the upper fold can be released thereon to be translated intermittently by the insert gathering elements 263 to positions before each of 3 the succeeding insert magazines 205. As can be seen in Fig. l, the extension rod 32! of the air conduit 32!) extends a short distance in front of the insert magazine 2% so that the ri ht end of the upper fold of the folded insert (not shown) will re t on extension rod 32! when released by the suction cup 360. It is to be understood. that the extension rod 32! may be substituted for another of a different length or a telescoping member may be provided if necessary when adapting the present insert gathering machine for gathering inserts of a different length than that contemplated when using the extension rod 32 I The air conduit 32!) not only serves as a means for supporting the upper fold of the folded insert (not shown) but in addition, by virtue of the plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 322 thereon, Fig. la, through which air under pressure can be discharged downwardly serves to depress the lower fold of the folded insert (not shown) and each of the inserts deposited between the folds from the succeeding insert magazines 236. Thus, each collected insert will be deposited on ton of the proceeding insert and will be inserted between the folds of the first insert athered b the insert gatherin elements see.

In order to assist in maintaining the gathered inserts in uniform collections. a shield 324, Fig. 1, is positioned before the insert magazine 204 to hold the folded insert (not shown) when the upper fold thereof is being raised, and a plurality of movement arresting devices 325 are located before each of the insert magazines 2% to prevent skidding of the collected inserts following the intermittent forward movement impacted to them by the insert gathering elements 250. The movement arresting'devices 326 have a resilient leaf spring 328 under which the inserts can be translated by the insert gathering elements 260, but which will frictional-1y engage the inserts so that when the insert gathering elements 2 60 have completed their forward stroke, the resilient leaf spring elements will halt movement of the inserts. It should be under to d that any suitable movement arresting means may be used in place of the devices 326.

Another feature of the present invention which aids in maintaining the nested collections of inserts in compact arrangement is that of having the first insert gathering element 266, which moves before the insert magazine 2%, slightly longer than the remaining insert collecting elements. Also, the timing of the raising of the guide way 264 is such that said first insert gathering element 260 will be raised slightly above the top surface 2&2 near the end of the return stroke of bar 252. In this manner, said first insert gathering element 260 while completing its return stroke will frictlonally engage the lower surface of a folded insert (not shown) which has been deposited on the top surface 292 from insert magazine 204, and will square the said folded insert under the shield 324 to insure that said folded insert will be in proper alignment to be translated before each of the succeeding insert magazines 206.

From the foregoing description, it is believed clear that the inserts (not shown) from each of the insert magazines 206 will be collected between the folds of the folded inserts (not shown) from the insert magazine 204 and will be translated by the insert gathering elements 266 to the end of the path of movement indicated at 333, of the last insert gathering element 230. As can be seen in Fig. 2, a guide plate 332 may be employed to aid in guiding the collections of inserts to a position before the plurality of envelope stuffing elements 340, Figs. 2 and 10. Said guide plate 332 directs the inserts against the rail 234 and also depresses the upper fold of the folded insert after said upper fold has dropped over the right end of air conduit 32!].

The envelope stuffing elements 343 reciprocate transversely of the path of movement of the insert gathering elements 260 in the slots 332 of the top surface 202 of table 260. The forward ends 3442 of the envelope stuffing elements 345) are bifurcated to engage the ends of the folds of the folded inserts as well as the inserts nested therebetween.

The reciprocating motion is imparted to the envelope stuffing elements 340 by the cam. 346, Fig. 10, which is a part of cam shaft 232. The cam 346, in rotating actuates the cam follower 348 mounted on one end of bell crank see which in turn results in the other arm of the bell crank 350 reciprocating the crank arm 352 by means of link 354. The crank arm 352 is p-ivotally joined to the carrier 356 which supports the envelope stuiiing elements 340 and which travels on suitable tracks 353. As is believed to be readily understood, the earn 345 is mounted in a suitable position on cam shaft 232 so that the envelope stuffing elements 343 will be in a rearward position as seen in Fig. 2 to receive the collected inserts (not shown) from the insert gathering elements 260 and thereafter will move said collected inserts (not shown) forward to the insert stuffing substation 88.

At the insert stuffing substation 33, Fig. 2, a mechanism is provided for opening the envelope (shown in phantom) to receive a collection of nested inserts (not shown). The mechanism includes an air nozzle 360 through which a jet of air is directed at the envelope to spread the upper panel from the lower panel. -The source of supply of the air jet will be described. more fully hereinafter. V

A plate 362 is mounted on a bracket 33s to limit the spreading of the panels'of the envelope and thereby cause the panels to be spread apart at the side edges as well as at the middle. Thisis to facilitate inserting of the fingers 36d and 353 into the envelope to maintain the panels in spread apart relation while its collection of inserts is being inserted thereinto.

Each of the fingers and 388 are mounted on the lower end of shafts 310 and 312, respectively. The shafts 31B and 312, are each. carried in journals 314 and 316 which in turn are supported by a pair of brackets 318 and 388.

Connected to shaft 315) by a crank arm 362 is a link 3% which is pivotally connected at its one end to the rocker arm 386. The latter is pivotally mounted on the bracket member 38% and carries a cam. follower 390a at its other end. The cam follower 390a is in following engagement with the cam 39B and the latter is mounted on the cam shaft 332 which. is gear driven from the cam shaft 232. By virtue of this construction, the movements of the rocker arm 385 will be synchronized with the movements of the insert gathering elements 256 and the envelope stufiing elements 349.

The fingers 366 and 358 are linked together by a suitable mechanism so that they will be simul taneously pivoted in a clockwise and counter clockwise direction respectively into the open end of the envelope (shown in phantom in Fig. 2)

and into engagement with the opposite sides of said envelope, as shown. This mechanism includes the crank arms 394 and 396 and the link 398 pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the ends of said crank arms 394 and 396.

As can be seen, when the link 38 is moved toward the envelope, the crank arm 382 will be turned in a clockwise direction causing the finger 355 likewise to rotate in a clockwise direction. Simultaneous with this action, the crank arm 39% will move link 393 to the right causing crank arm 396 to turn counterclockwise which results in the finger 353 turning counterclockwise. On the return stroke of link 384, the fingers 366 and 368 will each be rotated in opposite directions resulting in their withdrawal from the envelope, as is believed readily understood.

In order to permit the present envelope stuliing machine to be used to load envelopes of chi ierent lengths, the bracket 380 has an elongated slot the therein in which the shaft 312 is 1nounted, and an adjustable locking member 402 secures the link 398 to the crank arm 3.96. Thus, if a group of short envelopes are to be loaded,

it is only necessary to loosen the locking member 402 and then move the shaft 312 and its crank arm 3% and finger 368 to the left until the finger 358 is properly located. to enter the envelope and engage its right side. From the above description, it can be seen that the fingers 366 and. 358 hold the envelopes open during the stuffing operation, but also position each of the envelopes so that it is properly located to receive its collection of nested inserts.

Safety devices lugs and reference is made. to Figs. 1, 2, 5,. 8,

12 and 13 for a description thereof. The device is electrically connected so that when one circuit is completed an alarm will indicate if no insert has passed a particular station, and a second circuit serves to set off an alarm in the event that an excessive number of inserts, determined by their thickness, passes a particular station.

An electric contact 413 is pivotally mounted at All on the end of each of the crank arms M2 and is adapted to be raised or lowered by the crank arms M2 when the latter are pivoted by the shaft 414 which is journaled in the plurality of brackets ME. The shaft AM is caused to rotate by the arm Hi3 which is rigidly secured to shaft 413 at its upper end and has a cam follower 42*, Fig. 6, on its lower end which is adapted to follow on the cam 422. Thus, when the cam follower 429 i On the raised portion of cam 422, the arm M8 will have rotated a limited amount which results in shaft 414 being rotated and thereby, the contacts llil will be in a raised position with respect to the table 26!} permitting inserts to be deposited on table are from the insert magazines 294 and zoo.

When the cam 422 has rotated so that the follower 420 is on the lowered portion thereof, the electric contacts 4H) will be lowered. to engage the top surface 292 of table 25!] or to engage the inserts deposited thereon. If an insert has been properly deposited on the table 2M at each of the contacts M53, each of said inserts will act as an insulator and prevent a circuit from being closed between the contacts 410 and the table 200, and if for any reason an insert was not withdrawn irom its insert magazine and deposited on the table 20! a circuit will be completed setting off a suitable alarm (not hown).

As will be understood from the above description, a safety device is provided to set oil" an alarm in the event there is a failure to collect one of the inserts. This safety device also can be used to set off an alarm (not shown) in the event too many inserts are withdrawn at one time from one of the insert magazines. In order to carry out this operation, an extension member 426 is integrally connected with the pivotal mounting of the electric contact 410. At its outer end, the extension member 424 is spring supported on a support bracket 42% which is secured to the crank arm M2. An adjusting screw 628, also secured to crank arm H2, limits the biasing action of the spring 4311 which provides the spring support for extension member 424.

In the event too many inserts are deposited on the table from one of the insert magazines, the thickness of such inserts will cause the electric contact 4 l 0 to be pivoted about its pivotal mountillg 4H against the biasin action of spring 63 and thus, to lower the outer end of extension member 424 into contact with the electric contact 432, and thereby to set oif an alarm (not shown). As can be seen, the electric contact 432 is suitably supported on the bracket H6.

Each of electric contacts M0 and 332 are suitably connected' to a source of electric power at low voltage so that when either makes contact with the table top 202 or extension member 42.4, a circuit will be completed by virtue of the grounding of the contacts setting off the necessary alarm. As is believed to be understood, individual alarms may be used for each of the safety devicesso that the operator of the insert gathering and envelope stuffing. machine will be able to determine immediately which insert may l have been missed in the gathering operation, or where extra inserts may have been gathered.

If desired, a safety device may also be employed at the insert stuffing station 83 to make certain that only one collection of nested inserts is stuffed into each envelope and to detect instances where no collections of nested inserts are available for stuffing into the envelopes. This safety device is the same in construction as those previously described for use adjacent the insert magazines 25d and flit and this safety device is identified in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings by the reference number l lll.

Compressed air and vacuum systems As is believed understood from the foregoing description, air under pressure is used at various of the substations of the present machine to perform necessary functions in handling the inserts and envelopes. Suction cups are also employed for the same purpose and each of these suction cups are suitably connected to a vacuum source.

Referring to 11, a schematic diagram of the compressed air and vacuum systems can be seen. A vacuum pump 453 has its suction side joined to a vacuum reservoir by a conduit in which a check valve 656 is located to prevent lealsage of air through the pump illi} into the vacuum reservoir $52 when the pump 450 is not in operation.

A manifold 358 is connected to the vacuum reservoir Q52, and three conduits set, and 4st are joined to the manifold The conduit 4% leads to a vacuum valve 2%, which is adapted to be opened and closed by the action of cam its, Fig. 6, on cam shaft 232. Two conduits ilt and t lt lead from the vacuum valve est, conduit ilt leading to suction cups tilt which are located in the table lull and conduit M2 leading to the suction cup Set-ll supported on the pivotally movable arm Thus, it can be seen that a vacuum will be created in suction cups tilt and at the proper time in the cycle of operation of the present insert gathering and envelope stuffing machine since the valve tilt Will be controlled by the rotation of cam shaft 232 which controls the movements of the various elements in gathering and nesting the collections of inserts.

The conduit it-2 which leads from the vacuum reservoir extends to the vacuum valve sis and from there it divides and extends to each of the suction cups 2 it which are used to remove inserts from the insert magazines 2% and 236. Only one cup its is shown in the schematic diagram, but it should be understood that all suction cups 2 it are similarly joined by a conduit to vacuum valve lls. The vacuum valve 414 is actuated by the cam d'itl which is located on cam shaft 232, Fig. 6.

The conduit :62, which leads from the vacuum reservoir 552 extends to the vacuum valve M6 and from there to the suction cups 2t which are employed in removing envelopes from the envelope magazine i l. The vacuum valve 4'16 is actuated by cam N3 of cam shaft 232, Fig. 7. Thus, it can be seen that the action of suction cups 256 and also suction cups 24 will be synchronized in their operation with other elements of the machine because the vacuum valves 474 and ile are actuated as a result of the rotation of cam shaft 232.

The high pressure air used in the present insert gathering and envelope stoning machine is supplied from the air compressor 48% which discharges into the air reservoir 482 by means of conduit 48%. A discharge manifold 186 communicates with said air reservoir 4&2 and has a plurality of conduits connected thereto, the first conduit 133 extending to the air nozzle 3% at the insert stuffing station 38 for spreading the panels of the envelopes. A high pressure air valve 58% is located in conduit tat to control flow of high pressure air to air nozzle 356. The air valve t lt is selectively opened and closed by operation of cam 492 of cam shaft 232, Fig. '7.

The second conduit ist leads from discharge manifold. Q86 through high pressure air valve tilt to the air conduit 320 located above the top surface 202 of table 289. The opening and closing of air valve G is controlled by cam :98 of cam shaft 232.

The third conduit 530 from discharge manifold 486 leads through the high pressure air valve 5&2 which is arranged to be actuated by cam 503, to the air nozzles 595i, which may be used if desired to direct steady flowing jets of air through the apertures 506 in the bottoms of the insert magazines 2M and 2% to spread the inserts in the said magazines 2M and 2%, thereby to facilitate removal of the inserts singly from the said magazines.

Air nozzles 558 may also be used, if desired, to aid in spreading the inserts to facilitate removing them singly from the insert magazines 2% and 2%. These nozzles 5B8 receive high pressure air from conduit m which is connected to the discharge manifold 482. Th air nozzles 5&8 can be controlled by valve EH2 to permit a steady flow of air therefrom at all times so that the inserts in the insert magazines will remain slightly spread apart at all times during operation of the present machine. As stated above, this permits inserts to be removed singly therefrom more readily.

It is believed to be clear from the above description that all movements in the present insert gathering and envelope stuffing machine are effected as a result of rotating cam shaft 232, which either actuates the movable elements through its own cams or actuates them through various gear drives directly connected to earn shaft 232.

An suitable prime mover may be used to rotate cam shaft 232. Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, an electric motor is shown which is connected to the idler shaft 522 by the belt 524% and the idler shaft 522 is connected to earn shaft 232 by a speed reducing gear train 525. A braking device 528 is shown connected to the shaft 536 of electric motor 529 to provide quick stopping of the insert gathering and envelope stuihng machine whenever power is cut off from said electric motor 529. This is a desirable feature, since it will enable the various inserts and envelopes to be retained in their proper places whenever the safety devices, previously described, stop the machine.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an insert gathering and envelope stuifing machine, a stationary table, a series of insert magazines, means for delivering inserts simultaneously from the insert magazines to spaced positions on said stationary table, the means associated with the first insert magazine being adapted to deliver a folded insert to its position with the unfolded edge facing its insert magazine, means for positively engaging the upper and lower folded portions and for partially unfolding folded inserts delivered from the first of said insert magazines, a tubular member disposed partially above the first spaced position and 

